PSYC 330 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Lethal Dose, Drug Tolerance, Alcohol Intoxication
12 Aug 2016
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Can divide user characteristics into two types: biological and psychological. Inherited differences in reactions to drugs/genetic factors based of a drug. Major differences in how people react to drugs are genetically. Initial sensitivity: the way people are affected by their first dose. Big misconception that when it is said something is genetic, people jump to say that it explains everything, but drug addiction genetics are very complicated compared to a disease like huntington"s that is inherited. Drug addiction is also dependent on behaviors and heavily influenced by environmental factors. The same dose given to a man as a woman will on average have somewhat greater effects on the woman. Women have higher body fat than men who have higher percentage of body water. Drug is more concentrated in the fat so greater effect. Some drugs selectively bind to fat molecules so drug is eliminated more slowly so remains active in the body for longer.
